Provigil User Reviews & Ratings (Page 4)

• Car...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 9, 2015

For Narcolepsy "I have narcolepsy, which went undiagnosed for decades. I don't drink coffee, and for years self-medicated using caffeine tablets and diet sodas. Finally, in desperation, started looking for answers via the net, had a sleep study, and voila, narcolepsy. Tried Ritalin with no effect, then Provigil, and for the first time felt normal and productive. Health insurance would not cover, and soon I was paying $800.00 a month for meds. To make matters worse, the Provigil soon lost any efficacy. Ultimately, my doc reluctantly prescribed Adderall, and I have been taking 30 mg in the AM and 20 more around lunch. This works okay, but still need caffeine."

• btc...
• March 19, 2010

For Narcolepsy "Provigil saves the day. I work full time, intricate work, drive, multi-task person. Yes, it is expensive, but fortunately I have good insurance from my workplace. I take 200 mg a day. No side effects. Never take a nap. I'm the energizer bunny."

• Fly...
• November 3, 2008

For Narcolepsy "Compared to Ritalin, which I was taking before this drug, this produced a much more alert and natural awake feeling. Unfortunately for me, it also made me practically psychotic, and in a moment of thoughtfulness, I thought this must be how people feel when they talk about 'snapping'. I could not control my emotions. I went back to my doctor and promptly switched off the medication. Too bad the side effects were over the top, as the alertness was amazing. I took the drug for less than two weeks."

• KRa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 22, 2019

For Narcolepsy "This medication worked wonders for me. It had a lot fewer side effects than the alternatives like amphetamines and methylphenidate, however, modafinil raises histamine levels, and I broke out in hives about 2 weeks into taking it. It’s a shame because this medicine worked better than anything else I have tried."

• Sle...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 11, 2024

For Narcolepsy "I take it first thing in the morning. It has definitely solved my problem of excessive sleepiness during the day! One side effect that I'm dealing with is a daily headache. If that goes away, this drug has been a lifesaver for me."

• Anonymous
• July 17, 2011

For Multiple Sclerosis "Second day on Provigil. I feel great! I took my first pill yesterday at around noon, and I did not have trouble sleeping. I went to sleep a little later than usual because I could, though! I feel more alert, but I don't know if I want to continue to take it every day. That's why I gave it a 9 out of 10. I woke up this morning pretty fatigued, and I almost didn't want to take it because I wanted to rest, obviously since I was fatigued. But once I took it, I felt great again! If you have MS and insurance won't cover it because it is not approved for use for MS patients, have your neuro file a claim as to why it would help you! Don't let insurance stand in the way. Everyone who has chronic fatigue due to MS should try this pill."

• Anonymous
• January 19, 2010

For Drowsiness "I have been taking Provigil 200 mg x 2 for 3 years. I don't doze off while driving like I used to, which is wonderful. I do still get very sleepy in the afternoon, and I have a lot of fatigue. The major downfall to Provigil is the cost. I lost my job due to a layoff and no longer have insurance. My prescription without insurance is over $800 per month. Needless to say, I will no longer be able to take it once I use all of what I have. Not looking forward to that at all. My doctor also prescribed Ritalin to take in the afternoons, but it just makes me jittery for about 15 minutes, and that's pretty much all it does for me."

• sle...
• May 1, 2009

For Narcolepsy "The first one I tried, and it was not good for me. The constant headaches, dry mouth (very bad at nighttime), made me have very real-like/scary nightmares, and after 2 days did not even change my energy level/random sleep attacks. Still had to have a nap to make it through the day."

• sig...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 22, 2012

For Narcolepsy "Provigil (Modafinil) has been a good addition to my regimen for dealing with the symptoms of narcolepsy. I take different doses depending on the severity of symptoms. I take 50 mg twice a day most of the time, or 100 mg twice a day. I have tried 200 mg once or twice a day, and that's where the side effects kick in (very dry mouth and headaches). It does keep me awake during the day most of the time, but sometimes I feel as if I never took it. But that's where adding coffee or caffeine pills really helps. I feel safe taking this med, and I'm happy to have discovered it."

• Ama...
• May 26, 2016

"I seriously do not know how this medicine is approved as a stimulant. I suffer from obstructive sleep apnea, narcolepsy, and shift work sleep disorder. This medicine in no way kept me awake, alert, or focused. If anything, I had a complete opposite effect. I felt some sort of brain fog, my performance at work lagged, and I couldn't keep my eyes open. I had no motivation to accomplish any tasks or get out of bed for that matter. Along with these negative effects, I had headaches and nausea. I would not recommend this as a stimulant or something for sharp cognitive effects. But maybe more like a sleeping pill. I felt like it was a sleeping pill but struggling to stay awake after taking it. Tried for one week."

• Anonymous
• March 16, 2009

For Narcolepsy "I hear people rave about Provigil, and I was excited to try it. Unfortunately, it did not help me. I slept just as much as I did taking no medication at all. I am still in testing and trying different medications. Hopefully, I will find one that will help me stay awake eventually."

• Anonymous
• April 8, 2009

For Narcolepsy "I have been on 2 x 200 a day for 10 months now, and it has not been the miracle drug for narcolepsy that some people talk about. I have given it a lot of time, but still have excessive daytime sleepiness. Works better for others, I suppose. Also, does anyone else notice that it makes your urine smell weird?"

• Anonymous
• May 2, 2010

For Narcolepsy "I was put on Provigil a year and a half ago and can no longer take it. I was one of the ones that had a horrible reaction to it. At first, it was just a headache, then I would crash around 5... then the headaches got worse, and no medicines helped with the headache. Then I started itching. At first, I didn't connect it to the Provigil, then I broke out EVERYWHERE with a rash that was like poison ivy, just worse. So I am no longer on any medicines, and let's just say that most days are very hard, and I am so very tired."

• Luc...
• January 29, 2021

For Narcolepsy "When I was 50 years old, I started nodding out in the car and restaurants, and it was very humiliating. It was uncontrollable, my family was very embarrassed. I went to a neurologist, and they took sleep studies, and they said that I had sleep apnea, which was unusual because I am, but at the time I was 105 lb and I was not diabetic, and I am borderline narcoleptic. I am hypersomnia. I was prescribed many medications, they did not work, such as Adderall, which had just come out. They said it was a very unique medication. I had to fight the insurance to pay for it. My doctor prescribed that after it was approved, and I have to take 200 mg in the morning. Then I would become myself. I take that faithfully and another 200 mg at 1 p.m., and I do not have those episodes anymore of uncontrolled sleeping where I cannot function. I've been on Provigil for 12 years now. My doctor prescribes 100 mg Nuvigil in the afternoon with the 200 mg Provigil."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 12, 2012

For Narcolepsy "I have only been on Provigil for a month, but it has caused extreme nausea and headaches. I have a history of cluster headaches and migraines, which had diminished, but are now back in full force. I've also had stomach cancer twice, and Provigil makes me very nauseous and losing weight due to an inability to eat. I'm glad that it is effective for some, I just wish that I was in that group because I am TIRED."

• Anonymous
• March 1, 2009

For Multiple Sclerosis "I take Provigil about 5 times a week. I have been on it since 12/06. I have to take 'vacations' from it in order for it to work like it should. When I start it again, I get massive headaches, but it's worth it for the energy. My MS fatigue is so bad most of the time that I really need this medication. I do get headaches, nervousness, anxiety, and stomach issues while taking this pill. But all I do without taking it is sleep."

• SHE...
• August 15, 2011

For Multiple Sclerosis "I have had multiple sclerosis since 1978. For a long time, there was no medication for M.S. I began taking 100 mg of Provigil many years ago, but now take 200 mg twice daily. I switched to methylphenidate 10 mg twice daily for 3 months, as my insurance, or lack of insurance, made Provigil financially prohibitive. All I did was sleep. My fatigue was totally incapacitating! Now, with insurance in place, I'm back on Provigil. I've re-entered life and realize how vitally important Provigil is to my well-being!"

• Sle...
• July 23, 2009

For Narcolepsy "I took Provigil for 6 months with varying doses (100-300 mg/day). It only took about 20-30 minutes to kick in and lasted roughly 7 hours. It gave me an incredibly high level of alertness. I also have mild cataplexy and sleep paralysis, and it seemed to help keep both of these under control. However, it also gave me very bad nausea and an even worse headache. When the medicine wore off, my body reacted by immediately having a strong 'sleep attack.' If I didn't take my next dose before the first had worn off, the second didn't seem to work. Also, my urine smelled strange, and the smell got even stronger when I drank more water. This stopped as soon as I changed my medication to Adderall."

• Mic...
• January 24, 2010

For Narcolepsy "Effective, yet extremely expensive for folks like me who don't have prescription coverage (insurance). Wish there was a generic form of this. This medicine has the least amount of side effects and is very effective for me."

• Dee...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 30, 2024

"I have been taking Provigil for a week, and I have had very little hunger. It is not giving me the jitters at all. I have taken just about every medication except Ozempic on a regular basis, only to gain any weight lost! I am hopeful this will give me energy and continue to suppress my appetite."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 16, 2012

For Narcolepsy "I have narcolepsy with cataplexy and am currently taking Provigil during the day when I first wake up. I have noticed that my cataplexy attacks are fewer, but it doesn't stop them all. I still have at least 3 big attacks a week. I have found that I am more alert taking Ritalin, but have more cataplectic attacks. I am currently working with my doc to up the dosage because the 200 mg is not enough. I have had some side effects with the medicine: mood swings, becoming fixated on a task or project, confusion, headache, and some depression. I am currently a full-time student, and for me, taking Provigil to prevent attacks vs. being more alert is the best option for me at this point."

• hea...
• May 18, 2011

For Multiple Sclerosis "Provigil gets 9 out of 10 ONLY because of the extreme headache I get when I don't take it A--with lots of water (and a little food in my stomach) and B--before 10 a.m. I've had Multiple Sclerosis for 7 years now and have been on Provigil for the last few years to fight the fatigue and lack of focus associated with MS. And it even has the 'bonus' side effect of making me HAPPY again. Most people who have MS know that depression is also a silent struggle that never gets acknowledged. Provigil makes me physically less 'worn out,' makes me mentally alert, and makes me emotionally just in a better mood. I guess I can't say enough good things about it. If you can tolerate the headache you might get, this medicine is WORTH IT."

• Tho...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• October 19, 2020

For Shift Work Sleep Disorder "I was originally put on Provigil 15 years ago for shift work sleep disorder, but I'm now on it for the fatigue that comes with MS. My dose is 200 mg once a day, worked well for me, but a new doc switched me to Nuvigil, which isn't working well at all. I have to say there is a big difference between Provigil brand and the generic Modafinil. Modafinil is much weaker, and I often needed 400 mg a day depending on what I had to do."

• Anonymous
• February 17, 2011

For Multiple Sclerosis "I took Provigil for the first time yesterday, and for the first time in as long as I can remember, I felt hopeful. My tremors decreased, and I had energy for the first time in years. I am so happy and hope never to stop taking it. Magical little pill."

• Anonymous
• September 27, 2010

For Narcolepsy "Ever since I was age 13, I would have sleep attacks almost every day; about 5 days out of a week. It really affected my schoolwork because I just couldn't force myself to stay awake. Two years ago, when I was 18, I finally investigated why I was having these sleep attacks. I was eventually diagnosed with narcolepsy by a neurologist. He put me on Provigil, 200 mg in the morning and 100 mg in the afternoon. Within a week, I noticed a huge difference. I've never felt so awake and refreshed in years. Now I'll only have around 10 sleep attacks per year. The only flaw this drug has is its price. MAKE SURE your insurance covers it. They may not at first, but give them documentation of your condition, and they will."